Boehner 'hopeful' on preventing government shutdown

By kkoviak

Created 03/04/2013 - 8:33am

Monday, March 4, 2013 - 8:33am

CNN — As Washington moved on to the next fiscal battle, House Speaker John Boehner sounded optimistic about the prospect of passing a measure by March 27 that would continue funding the government and avoid a shutdown.

"The president this morning agreed that we should not have any talk of a government shutdown," Boehner said in an interview that was taped Friday and aired Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press." "So I'm hopeful that the House and Senate will be able to work through this."

Boehner announced Friday that the House will take up a measure next week that will support the government financially through the end of the fiscal year, September 30. The exact provisions in the bill have not been released.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell also predicted the bill could pass in the Senate with bipartisan support.

"Senate Democrats have indicated they are not interested in (a government shutdown), either," he said on CNN's "State of the Union." "I believe we're going to be able to work out passing the continuing resolution later in March on a bipartisan basis through both the House and the Senate."

Republicans, however, may use the opportunity to try to amend the $85 billion in spending cuts that went into effect Friday. Adding such provisions could stall the funding bill, also known as a continuing resolution, as Republicans and Democrats may disagree over the proposed amendments.

In reaction to Boehner's comments that aired Sunday morning, the White House issued a statement emphasizing its support for a "truly clean" continuing resolution - meaning legislation that doesn't come with items unrelated to the March 27 deadline.

"We would be happy to see Congress act on a truly clean CR that extends the funding levels at the BCA levels. And separately, Congress needs to act to replace the sequester," an administration official said, meaning the temporary spending bill should continue funding the government at levels established by the Budget Control Act.